Celling Technologies' Res-Q system promotes the regeneration of tissue in foot and ankle procedures by delivering a highly concentrated volume of your own adult stem cells. The cells are obtained through a painless technique, which is part of the procedure, and can be completed within minutes. Your own stem cells are then concentrated through a patented process and delivered back to the injured site to facilitate in the body's natural healing process.

WHAT ARE STEM CELLS?

Stem cells are unspecialized cells found in every tissue in your body. These unique cells are capable of two processes: self-renewal and differentiation.

The process of self-renewal is the ability of stem cells to create multiple copies of themselves. Differentiation is the ability of stem cells to develop into any of the more than 200 types of specialized cells found throughout the body. Self renewal allows the body to have a pool of cells for repairing itself; differentiation allows the cells to perform specific functions within your organs. Through differentiation cells become specialist in performing a limited set of functions.

There are two types of stem cells: embryonic and adult. Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos at an early stage of development, while adult stem cells reside within adult tissues, such as bone marrow and adipose (fat) tissues. Because of their source, embryonic stem cells have presented ethical and political issues. Adult stem cells, however, are from the patient's own body and therefore their use in clinical and laboratory settings is NOT controversial.

Given their unique abilities, stem cells offer new possibilities for treating a variety of conditions. Their use to repair damaged tissue has given rise to the scientific field known as Regenerative Medicine.

Over the last decade there has been an explosion of studies examining the use of adult stem cells to treat a variety of orthopedic conditions ranging from soft tissue loss and cartilage defects to bone loss due to trauma or tumor removal. Clinical data has demonstrated the ability of adult stem cells to treat long bone fractures that failed to heal, known as non-unions. Although these types of fractures have failed to respond to other treatments, an injection of stem cells has resulted in new bone formation and fracture healing.

Soft tissue repair, especially at the ligament or tendon reattachment to bone can also lead to incomplete or compromised healing. Adult stem cells have been shown to promote the healing of soft tissues such as the Achilles tendon, the rotator cuff ligaments of the shoulder and the meniscus of the knee.

Stem cells have far reaching and promising applications in the orthopedic and podiatric field. Researchers and clinicians believe the early introduction of stem cells to an injury could result in the prevention of major surgery such as total joint replacement.

By infusing the injured or damaged tissue with undifferentiated stem cells from your own body, your podiatrist will be rejuvenating the cell population at the site of injection. This combined with the right physical therapy will lead to a full repair and regeneration of the tissue giving it back its proper function.

Foot Specialists of Cedar Park & Georgetown
Tel: (512) 259–3338
       (512) 930–0707
E-mail: info@austinfeet.com
Website: www.austinfeet.com